Turkish-backed rebels 3km from strategic Dabiq, northern Syria

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Turkish-backed rebel groups in northern Syria have come within 3 kilometres of the strategic Dabiq town, according to reports.

“Rebels backed by Turkish forces and airstrikes were able to reach Turkman Bareh town and take control of the town,” reported the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Sunday.

Turkman Bareh is 11 kilometres southwest of the border town of al-Rai, and just a few kilometres east of Dabiq.

Dabiq is a small northern Syrian village that is a theological heartland for Islamic State (ISIS). According to one reading of ISIS doctrine, the final battle between good and evil will take place here. US special forces were reportedly headed towards Dabiq in mid-September.

The US-led coalition has confirmed it is supporting the offensive for Dabiq. US special envoy to the coalition, Brett McGurk, tweeted on Sunday that they are "actively supporting" the operation.

Coalition actively supporting Syrian opposition forces as they advance to within a few kilometers of #ISIL's weakening stronghold #Dabiq.

More important than Dabiq is what may be happening just south of Nubl-Zahra. The opposition forces from the south are about to link up with the Turkey backed opposition forces (mostly FSA) moving down from the north. When they link up, and they are only about 20 km apart, that would be a major development and not to Assad's favor and could change the outcome of this war. Look it up on the ISAW map on this link: http://iswresearch.blogspot.com/